Latest tip: Most people have alignment problems because they align their body
with the target. The ball should be lined up with the target and your body and feet
lined up on a line left and parallel to this target line. By aligning your body with
a point left of the target, you will have more room to swing out to your target.

More tips: As we all get ready for the new golf season, let's get a better
understanding of the golf swing. The goal of the golf swing is to make a
motion that allows us to hit the ball with the proper hand action. Too
often we become preoccupied with the role of certain other parts of the
body - such as the hips. Properly trained hands will make up for poor hip
action; superior hip action will not make up for poor hand action. Of
course, properly trained movements do not provide for a more consistent
swing - but a good swing by itself, still doesn't strike the ball. The
HANDS determine the solidness of the hit, the squareness of the clubface at
impact, and the feel of the shot.
Work on developing your hands. Practice chipping and putting with one
hand. Strengthen your hands - squeeze a tennis ball or spring exerciser.
Get those hands in shape early and then have your best golf season ever!

Latest tip: Practice alignment! Put two tees down about three feet apart and in line with the
target. Practice swinging the clubhead over the back tee on the take away and over
the front tee on the follow through. This method practicing the correct clubhead path
which will lead to straighter shots.

More tips: Golfers should chart their play by using a shorthand or quick note method to
find out how many fairways and greens were hit in regulation. The player
should indicate how the ball got to that point, as well as the distance the
ball finished from the intended target. These stats will dictate the number
of putts they should use per round and give the player a good indication of the
part of the game where they could use a lesson or extra practice.

Scott Leer
PGA Member and Director of Instruction, The Bunker at Minnetonka

Latest tip: Pop your short putts!
Probably the most important element of short putting, besides aim, is making
sure you accelerate through the golf ball on short putts. It is very easy to
decelerate on short putts, which doesn't allow for a very good end over end
roll. To accelerate through the putt you must make sure you don't take the
putter back too far. (For example, on a three-foot putt you might only take
the putter back an inch, depending on the speed of the green.) I like to get
the feeling that I am popping the putter into the ball; this insures that I
am not letting the putter slow down through impact. If the ball is going too
far when you accelerate through the putt, just shorten up your take back
until you're not hitting the ball too hard.

Latest tip: Paul's got five secrets of golf, and he shares #2: Get control of your gameBecause of its location, gripping the club at the butt end and above the right
hand, the left hand has to control a majority of the club's weight. If you don't
have control of the butt end of the club, you don't have control of the
clubhead.

Latest tip: I ask most of my students whether it is more important to have
the clubface aimed correctly or their feet. About 80% say "feet." When was the
last time you kicked the ball? It is imperative that we have the clubface aimed
correctly first, and then set our feet. Make this part of your pre-shot routine
and watch the ball find the target more often.

As a teacher of the game, I enjoy all conversations about golf. But I enjoy most a
particular topic, distance -- and what it means in golf. When you bring up the
topic to most golfers, they start talking about the huge drive that they or
someone else hit. Or they inquire on how they can get MORE distance. Don't get
me wrong. A long drive can set the tone for a hole -- or for the day for that
matter. But "DISTANCE" in golf is about judging it, not sheer yardage.

Distance is the name of the short game, not the long game. When a seasoned
player thinks of distance, he or she thinks of lofted irons or wedges and being
able to approach a green, sticking the ball pin-high -- with the potential of
sinking the putt to save the hole. Think about it the next time you approach the green.
Many golfers have it backwards. It is common to see a golfer focusing on aim-accuracy
when they practice chipping and pitching. After all, the flag is as wide as a stick
and the hole is only 4¼ inches across. It's easy to confuse. Think distance when
approaching the green and accuracy of aim when hitting drives. Change your thinking.
Distance for the short game, accuracy for the long game.

Here's a tip for players who tend to slice or fade the ball. This temporary exercise has
helped many of my students learn what it feels like to produce powerful shots.

On the practice tee, set up with a 6- or 7-iron and tee the ball ¼- to ½-inch high.
After aiming the clubface and taking a square stance, move your back foot (right
foot for right-handed golfers) away from the target line so that your left heel and
right toes are in line with each other. Position the ball in line with the center of
your heels.

This setup will help you feel a proper forward swing that attacks the ball from the
inside, producing shallow divots. With proper club head rotation you will have a better
chance to square the clubface, so watch for straighter flight or even a nice draw!

Be careful not to swing too hard as this very closed stance will restrict your forward
swing. You may surprise yourself as to how much distance you can produce with little
effort. With practice, advance to longer clubs, changing the ball position accordingly.
Gradually move the right foot back into a square position as you develop a feel for these
solid shots.

Latest tip: Keep weight on the inside of the right leg on the
backswing!

Many golf swings are in trouble from the start because the
weight during the backswing has shifted too far to the outside of the foot on
the back leg. Similar to throwing a football or pitching a baseball the back
leg braces, then pushes the weight forward. Footwork in golf is the most
important single fundamental of the entire swing.

While giving a lesson to a
young junior girl, I was trying to emphasize the importance of the lower body in
the swing. I knew she was an excellent swimmer and asked her what was the most
important aspect of her swimming stroke?